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What to Ask Pharmacist Technician Courses
Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to select from in the Jacksonville AL area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Jacksonville residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacist Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Jacksonville AL pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition may be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Jacksonville Alabama area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in Jacksonville AL upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Jacksonville AL residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Jacksonville AL area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.